Paterson Council reruns too close to call

Council races in Paterson are too close to call.

3rd Ward Councilman William McKoy leads challenger Alex Mendez by 250 votes in a rerun of Paterson’s non-partisan municipal election spurred by voter fraud allegations against the challenger and Councilman Michael Jackson.

Challenger Mohammed Akhtaruzzaman leads Councilman Shahin Khalique by 63 votes in 2nd Ward race. This contest ended in a tie in May.

Mendez finished the May 12 election 240 votes ahead of McKoy, a longtime incumbent, but was charged with fraudulently casting mail-in ballots, unauthorized possession of ballots, tampering with public records, falsifying or tampering with records, election fraud and false registration.

Passaic County Superior Court Judge Ernest Caposela refused to allow Mendez to take the 3rd Ward’s council seat, instead ordering a new election.

Residents Chauncey Brown, Robyn Spencer and Sharrieff Bugg also sought the 3rd Ward Council seat.

Sonia Deliz, Frank Filippelli and Eddie Gonzalez also ran in the 2nd Ward.